60 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR 
Labelling. 
Specimens should be distinctly labelled with the locality in which 
they were taken, date of capture, elevation, etc. It is also important 
to mention whether they were obtained during the wet or dry season. 
These particulars should accompany the specimens themselves, and 
not be merely noted in a book. 
Larv/E. 
Persons residing in one place for any length of time can do great 
service by rearing insects from their larvae. With many caterpillars 
this is often quite easy. Larvae of unknown species, unless possessing 
some remarkable feature, are of very little interest. 
Larvae of Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera may be killed in 
boiling water, and after remaining in it from one to three minutes 
(according to the size of the larvae) may be preserved in spirit. 
Caterpillars may be killed in the cyanide-bottle or collecting-tin, 
and the skins preserved as dry specimens by means of the “ larvse- 
preserving apparatus ” (see p. 54). 
The contents of the body are removed thus The dead larva is 
laid on a piece of blotting-paper, with the tail farthest from the 
operator; a pencil (or similar thing) is laid across the tail end, and 
the contents rolled out of that part: this process is repeated, each 
time placing the roller a little nearer the head, until the whole body 
is emptied. Care should be taken, by shifting the position of the 
larva on the paper, not to let the outside of the skin get wetted. 
The roller must not be too much pressed. A glass tube drawn out 
to a point is now inserted in the posterior opening of the skin, and 
held with the spring, and air is forced into it with the inflator, while 
the skin is held over the drying-apparatus or in the small oven. 
When dry the specimen is ready for mounting on a dry stem of 
grass or other suitable object. Care should be taken not to distend 
the skin unnaturally. 
Methods op sending Specimens Home, 
It is desirable to send home small consignments at a time, and the 
parcel-post should be used wherever this is practicable. Strong 
